Finally getting to this one too:
* * *
Once in a museum I saw a statue of Athena, smooth marble limbs,
wise countenance, infinite grace. Juri-sempai reminds me of that
statue a lot;
except for the hair. The statue didn't have hair as cool as Juri's.
I like watching her; when she moves, in a fencing match, or
when she's sitting still, like now. I think she's the most
beautiful girl I know, maybe just because she's the oldest;
Himemiya-san and Tenjou-sempai and even Nanami-kun are all
pretty, but Juri-sempai's beautiful. When I first met her, I
even had a bit of a crush on her, but not any more; we're just
friends now. Good friends; she's the best friend I have here at
Ohtori.
Hmm. I'm thinking Miki, perhaps.
She was sitting in the corner of the high school cafeteria,
head slightly bowed, middle knuckle of her index finger lightly
touching her chin. Alone, of course, and even though the
cafeteria was crowded for space, all the tables next to hers were
empty as well. Juri-sempai's got a reputation for being aloof,
and even dangerous to know, but I don't think it's deserved;
Sure, she poked a couple of people's eyes out in fencing practice, but
that's just because she was drunk at the time. And there was that time she
ran over a couple of the students with a car, but she's just a lousy driver
the same way others are lousy cooks; it wasn't her fault.
Not that she's exactly an easy person to get to know. She
doesn't let people get close easily, just like me. Maybe that's
why the two of us get along so well, because we're similar
people. I'm happy being around people, but I'm just as happy
being by myself, playing the piano or studying.
Yep. Miki.
"Perceptive as always." I laughed softly; Juri-sempai likes
to go right to the point of a matter, whereas I always seem to
dance around it. Then I stopped laughing, because this was one
of those things I didn't want to think about, but couldn't avoid.
"Juri-sempai, will Himemiya-san... will she really do whatever
the one engaged to her asks?"
"Except for dancing the macarena: yes," Juri answered.
"I assume so, if what Ends of the World tells us in their
letters is true."
Akio: Of course, would I lie to you?
I didn't have anything to say to that. It was what I wanted
to know, of course, but the way she said it... it made it sound
so much worse. Dirty. I sometimes wonder about Juri-sempai's past,
because it would explain a lot if some boy had broken her heart
when she was younger.
Well, we don't know all of her past, but it seems... unlikely there was a
boy involved too. :)
"Yes. He probably has. That's the kind of man he is."
Touga: Yeah, baby. I'm a slut and I know it.
Of course it is. I knew that. But, hearing someone else
pronounce the judgement, especially Juri-sempai, forced me to
admit it fully to myself. It brought on other thoughts, just as
unwelcome; Himemiya-san was engaged to Saionji for a long time,
after all.
Yeah, but it's obvious from Saioji's dairy he doesn't think in those sort
of terms. In that he is better than Touga, even if he doesn't see it that
way.
Freedom. That's what she wants. She wants to be free, to
make her beautiful music, to shine, without anyone telling her
what she can and can't do.
Perhaps, but not at your hands.
"You've beaten me before. I would have beaten Tenjou, but
for a trick of chance. Touga needed trickery to beat her." She
paused, and looked me up and down with a gaze that seemed to
penetrate to the core of me. "You could beat him, Miki."
True. It seemed when Miki is fully focused on a goal, he can achieve it.
Were he not so easy to distract, he could conceivably have been the most
powerful of the duelists.
"Neither have I. But it would fit." Juri-sempai looked
suddenly like I'd never seen her before; satisfied, yet unhappy
at being so. "All her reason for fighting was to meet her
prince again. Touga made her believe he could be her prince,
and then he betrayed her. So, what does she have left to fight
for?"
She just needs bitch-slapped by Wakaba. Then it'll all come into place for
her.
"It just gets me a little down," she said finally. I'm
surprised she even said that much, because I expected her to tell
me nothing's wrong, like she always does when I ask her this sort
of question. So, when she went on, I was really shocked. "A
girl like Tenjou, she's a special kind of person; she shouldn't
become one of the crowd just because some man hurt her. She
deserves better than a playboy like Touga. Much better."
Juri: Like me, were I into pink. But alas, it's a major turn-off for me.
No. It would never work out. At best we would be never more than friends.
And, suddenly, I knew, and it made so much sense that I
feel like a complete idiot for not realizing it before. Maybe
it was just the look on her face when she talked about Tenjou-
sempai, but I knew. I was certain. I'd bet almost anything on
it.
Ah ha! So Miki's figured out Juri is a Methodist. I knew she couldn't keep
it a secret for too long.
I could almost see her withdraw emotionally, like a turtle
into its shell. That definitely came out too eagerly. "I don't
have anything to make up to anyone," she said icily. "And
whether or not Tenjou fights again isn't really all that
important to me."
Miki: Ruka would approve of it.
Juri: Shh. You haven't met him yet. Won't happen for another two story
arcs.
"There was an incident in the middle school cafeteria," said
one, a bright-eyed girl with her hair in two pigtails; a childish
style, I thought, for a high school girl. "Touga-sama tried to
kiss Tenjou Utena, that girl who wears the weird uniform, but
this other girl, who's her ex-lover or something, got jealous and
tried to stab him with a fork!"
Wakaba: Could have been worse. I could have asked him to take me on a ride
with him. :)
"You're both wrong," said the third softly, shaking her
ponytailed head. "Touga-sama was hitting on Tenjou. Her friend
didn't like it, because Tenjou wasn't acting like her usual self,
and he was taking advantage of that. She threw a glass of water
at him, but he moved, and she got Tenjou's roommate, Himemiya
Anthy, instead. Then her friend started getting angry at
Himemiya, saying it was her fault, and Tenjou slapped her. So
she slapped Tenjou back." She sighed. "A fight between close
friends... how tragic."
Juri: Yeah. Right. Who would ever believe a stupid story like that.
Miki: Yes. I think the second tale is closer to the truth.
"Strange girls," Juri-sempai said.
Miki said, "Not at all normal, like us members of the Student Council."
"Shut up, Miki," Juri retorted.
I watched her walk away. She walks beautifully.
Sometimes I wish she's wasn't gay, Miki thought. Perhaps he could start
wearing girl's clothes and make himself look like Kozue. Perhaps that would
draw Juri's attention.
* * *
He hadn't been expecting to meet her on the way to his
rendezvous, but attempted to make the best of it, as he did
everything. He liked to consider himself an optimist. If
nothing else, Arisugawa was aesthetically appealing, albeit
unattainable. Quite beyond even him, and he knew that from the
moment he met her; he'd never made a single advance towards her.
Really? I wouldn't picture Touga admitting that, even to himself. I would
have pictured him at least probing the waters to see if he was correct in
his assumption.
His was a mind devoted towards the examination of
possibilities, however, and her response if he did make such an
advance was something he'd considered from time to time.
Okay. Better.
He knew more about her than she probably thought he did,
things she didn't want anyone to know, especially someone like
him. If the need arose, he could use them against her, and
would not hesitate in the least to do so. The need had simply
not arisen yet.
Heh. It makes me wonder if he's dare if Ruka was still around. Touga did
seem to treat him with a measure of respect during the brief time they were
together .
"Oh? So that talk of always having her by your side was
only that."
that?" (I think since it seems more of a question that statement,
especially given Touga's next line)
Ohh. Actual commentary.
He wondered if he could defeat her if she challenged him,
using skill alone. Perhaps; their styles are very different,
after all, and she would probably underestimate him, believing
that only his trickery had allowed him to beat Tenjou. Which was
foolish, of course; he'd used trickery because it was easier.
The path of least resistance was generally his preferred one.
hence one of the reasons he loses in the rematch.
"Of course. I don't mean to suggest otherwise. Though it
makes me wonder what such a playboy wants with the Power of
Dios."
"Why, power, of course."
Not quite true: More power would be a better way to phrase it, IMO.
Otherwise it seems as though he thinks he doesn't have any.
"Isn't power why you want it as well, Arisugawa? Seize the
power to revolutionize the world with your own hands, and grant
the secret wish of your heart?"
Juri: No. I can knee you in the groin whenever I want.
Touga: I meant your other secret wish.
Juri: Shiori and the chocolate syrup?
Touga: Yes. That one.
As they passed by each other, she said, very quietly and
absolutely neutrally, "Mind you take good care of Saionji's
exchange diary, Mister President." And she smirked, just a
little.
heh.
The possibility was there. Preparations needed to be made.
He pulled out his phone. "It's me. Yes, she's a sweet flower.
That's not what I'm calling about, though... oh. You surprise me
again; yes, I think it's time to bring her back. She may be
useful for the future... you'll take care of everything? Very
well."
heh. that would explain things, except why Akio would dance to Touga's
tune.
though he posted that letter you sent him, because, really, what
were you thinking, a girl like you sending a letter to a guy like
him?), he gives you bad vibes like nobody else ever has. Just
being around him when he's around Utena makes all the little
hairs on the back of your neck stand straight up like cornstalks.
Hmm. Can perceive Touga for what he is but not Akio. Interesting, but fits
with what happens in the series.
"Uh-huh. Shinohara Wakaba. You're Arisugawa Juri."
She doesn't actually seem all that scary close up. She's
even kind of smiling at you, almost hesitantly, like she's trying
to reassure you she isn't going to pull off your arm and have it
for a snack. "You've heard of me?"
Wakaba; No. I pulled that name out of mid-air, duh. :P
You can't tell whether she's being ironic or not, but you're
not scared any more. Maybe she's someone to be scared off
of
"Yeah. I've heard of you. Is it true you bit the head off
a middle school freshman once?"
"No."
Inwardly, you wince; it didn't have the desired effect at
all. The opposite, in fact, because her smile goes away.
"It was only an arm."
Heh
Suddenly, she's very cold, and very calm, like the smooth
top of an iceberg. But down below the surface, there's something
jagged and very, very dangerous, and you, you're just a little
wooden boat with a patchwork sail.
At least until you can get your hands on a black rose. :P
"You do know exactly whom you're speaking to, don't you?"
Wakaba: Campus lesbian?
Juri: Yes. And as we all know, that makes me the coolist person around, so
you'd better learn to jump when I tell you to.
For a moment, she just _looks_ at you, like you're from
another planet. Then, softly, she begins to laugh; it's gentle
and appealing, and you're quite certain it's entirely out of
character for her.
One of those moments Touga talked about.
"Like I said, I don't know much. But..." Suddenly, you're
rising to your feet. "I think things are going to be okay." You
clasp your hands to your breast, right over you heart. "Whatever
he took from her, she's going to get it back--I know she is!"
You're filled up with pride, and you know your eyes are probably
shining in a really embarrassing way. "Because there's nobody
cooler than my Utena-sama!"
heh. Pure Wakaba.
You glare, but you're not really angry. She stands up
slowly; you can sense the lethal grace in every movement. The
panther simile occurs to you again, because that's what she's
like, beautiful and deadly and aloof.
And has spots on her hide if you look real close.
"Tenjou's lucky to have a friend like you," she says.
"You'll always stand by her, won't you?"
Ah. I see Juri's line of thoughts now. Interesting.
The sun is almost entirely gone behind the hills now, and
everything is red, red like the rose,
like a rose (sounds better to me. Especially since there are so many
different colored roses in the anime)
* * *
"I'm telling you, it was just... weird. I'm trying to get into
the fencing hall--I was thinking I could borrow a foil, or
something, I would have put it back when I was done--but it's
locked up tight, just like the kendo hall. I'm getting kinda
desperate, you see, because I don't want to have to fight a duel
with a tree branch from the forest or something,
Ah. Chu-Chu's story.
pretty surprised, so I say back to her, 'Trying to get into the
fencing hall', and she looks at me kinda funny, and says, 'Why
exactly are you trying to break into the fencing hall?', and I
say, kinda automatically 'Because I wasn't able to break into
the kendo hall.'
Now that makes sense.
stage? There's a Shakespeare line about that, I think. 'All
Ohtori's a stage...'
Well, yes, it is.
Sorry. Getting silly. Anyway, so I'm
like, 'Thanks', and she just nods. Then I'm about to walk off,
but I stop, because she's kind of watching me, like she expects
something more, so I say, 'Why?' So she says, totally seriously,
'That uniform doesn't suit you at all.' Which is exactly what
Wakaba said. Isn't that weird? Anyway, you know how it went
after that--hey, do you know where the blade went? I'm pretty
sure it went over the side, but... man, I hope it wasn't a family
heirloom or something.
Wording seems off considering the blade was broken, not torn from her
grasp.
This will be remembered by me for a long time as the Story That
Would Not Get Written. I began it in a completely different form
shortly after finishing "What Is Done" (with which it shares a
continuity), scrapped that version, wrote another one completely
different from this one, scrapped that as well, and finally
completed this, the third version of the story, and the one which
finally satisfied me.
I hope to complete more stories in this continuity in the future.
Hope to see them.
Overall reaction: Well, I like Juri, so of course I like this. Nice way to
get the various other's reaction and feedback as to the way they perceive
her. The story flowed well and you seemed to get the voice of each of the
characters down to perfection. No grammar errors that I could detect.
Nice work. Glad I finally got to it.
D.B. Sommer